Trends of the Decades - The 1920s
In 1922, Horace Tempest – the founder of Tempest Photography – took on his very first school photography assignment. The rest, you might say, is history.
In this series, we will be visiting each decade from the last 100 years to take a sideways look at the trends of the day, laugh at the fashion faux pas, then stop laughing as we remember our own youthful heyday fashion disasters, and marvel at the music, the innovation, and the news that shook the world way back when.
So, without further delay, buckle in and let us depart for the 1920s. Anyone for jazz?
The Roaring ‘20s
I mean come on. What a place to begin! Not many decades get their own special title, and when that title is ‘Roaring’ you know something cool is going down in the land of jazz music, The Great Gatsby, and growing optimism.
This was a decade ushered in on the back of peace and hope. The First World War had ended in victory and a new dawn was breaking the horizon. Cities became hotspots for bars and live music venues, the hedonism of youth in the post-war era truly flourished, and before the decade came to a close, women finally had the right to vote. The decade took progressive steps on a long road ahead.
The Tempest Photography Timeline
For Tempest Photography, this decade was truly the infancy of the concept that Horace Tempest might potentially build a business on the foundations of school photography.
He had, of course, taken that all-important first photograph - the eventual catalyst for everything that later came. But for the remainder of the ‘20s, young Horace still explored his love for music as a violinist. His first steps with Tempest Photography didn’t land until the 1930s.
And that is a decade for another blog.
Photography in the ‘20s
The period between the closing of the 19th century and the dawn of the 20th was a time of remarkable evolution for photography.
- By the 1920s the changes were coming thick and fast as the parameters of what the camera could do became ever wider.
- Leica released the first still camera that could use 35mm film in 1925. The Leica 1a proved a huge commercial success when it launched as the flagship model for the far more accessible 35mm film.
- Echoing the perceived freedom of the times, photographers began taking far more creative and artistic approaches to their craft. Extreme close-up shots sat alongside montages, curios angles became the norm and the camera as a tool for artistic expression was cemented.
- In the wake of the First World War, the camera also became an increasingly powerful tool in the documentation of society and culture.
The Big Moments
In 1921, Coco Chanel created the iconic fragrance, Chanel Number 5 and instantly made Valentine’s Day shopping a whole lot easier for generations of husbands to come.
The first edition of the legendary Radio Times magazine was published. Rumour suggests it was all repeats.
1928 saw the first appearance of a certain Mickey Mouse in Walt Disney’s ‘Steamboat Willie' cartoon.
In Pasadena, 1924, the aptly named Lionel Sternberger created the world’s first cheeseburger. We have nothing to add to this other than, thank you, sir!
1928 saw Dr Alexander Fleming discover penicillin quite by accident when finding mould had formed on a culture plate.
This decade also gave us the lie detector. And if you don't believe me, well, I do know one way I can prove it's the truth.
The Soundtrack
Jazz and blues ruled the day back in the roaring ‘20s. Artists such as Duke Ellington, Louis Armstrong, and Bessie Smith had toes tapping with their intoxicating blend of upbeat rhythms, soul drenched vocals and melancholy moments.
Our Favourites:
Louis Armstrong – West End Blues
Bessie Smith - Down-Hearted Blues
Fats Waller – Ain’t Misbehavin’
Bing Crosby – Makin’ Whoopee
Sophie Tucker – Some of These Days
As we emerge from our brief dip into the past, we bid farewell to the Roaring ‘20s, and its exuberant youthful spirit, and set our route to the ‘30s. A time of change.
See you there.